4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

Church Music is first a Ministry unto the Lord.

In 1 Chronicles the book is a priestly description of the days of the kings. Earlier in chapter 15 records the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem with the celebration that occurred by David and the Israelites with shouts and songs, and horns, trumpets, and cymbals, the playing of harps and lyres.

The place of music and musicians in regular worship unto the Lord is recorded. The Levites were set apart for ministry. They handled the sacrifices ordained for caring for the facilities. Some were used for the ministry of teaching, blessing the people and anointed in the reading of the Torah. Notice some were chosen to minister before the ark of the Lord to make petitions, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord the God of Israel. Here it’s mentioned the men who played instruments were commanded to perform regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

When we talk about the place of worship in the church, it is not a passive verb, it's an active one. When we come to church, we are not to listen to how well the preacher preaches or how well the praise team or musicians sound or to be passive spectators.  God is our spectator and when we leave, we should be asked how did we do today? Did I really honor God in my thoughts? Did I pray to Him and did the prayers lift up His name? Was my giving honoring to him? God is now the spectator, and we are doing it unto Him.  

That is also the key thought behind music. We sing to God each Sunday. The hymn, often at the beginning of the service, is not a hymn to anyone other than God. It is to the Lord.

The Levites were gifted in singing praises to God and playing instruments to please God continually. They sought to do their best. Someone who pleases God in their music first and foremost must please Him with a heart that's right before Him. Ephesians 1:12 says we “were created for his praise and glory”.  Sometimes the best way to communicate our feelings is through music for it is partly an emotional experience.

Later Chronicles lists 4000 are to praise the Lord with musical instruments.  David sometimes is given the credit, but we cannot forget that he got the instructions from God. So God commands us to perform for Him by music.

Application: How do you view music during church? Are you judging or are you using it to praise Him?

Prayer: How great thou art, when I think of all that you created Lord, I want to praise you. Help me not be a spectator but to honor you in singing glory to you deep within my soul.

Dale